EUFAMI wishes to pay tribute to former Board Member Bert Johnson, who passed away recently. Bert was an esteemed representative of our member organisation, Rethink Mental Illness. Bert served as Chair of the Trustees at Rethink Mental Illness for several years and was elected to the EUFAMI Board in 2009.
He was elected President of EUFAMI in 2012, serving until 2016, and then acted as Treasurer until 2018. In these roles, he led an organisation whose founding principle is a commitment to improving the care and welfare of all persons affected by mental illness.
As Chair of the Trustees of Rethink Mental Illness, he led one of the largest membership charities in England, supporting people affected by mental illness.
Over the years, Bert was active in establishing voluntary local groups for users of mental health services and their carers, providing practical and emotional support, as well as essential information on a range of subjects important to them.
His professional career was in public service in the UK, where he rose to a senior position in the employment field, including training and occupations for people with different physical and psychological conditions.
His early academic qualifications included degrees from Oxford and London Universities in psychology and accountancy.
We at EUFAMI remember him with fondness, gratitude, and deep respect for his unwavering dedication, leadership, and compassion. He will be greatly missed, but his legacy will continue to inspire our work.
